We have been helping approx 400 families in Siem Reap, Cambodia, facing a severe Covid-19 induced hunger crisis. These families are all associated with my dear friend Ana Margaridas Butterfly Schools, both in Siem Reap City and out in the surrounding countryside.

My daughter Cece and I first visited Cambodia in ealy 2018 to volunteer for several weeks at Ana’s school. We had been to third world countries before but the level of poverty and the inequity here was more than we had ever witnessed.

Since that time I have returned in early 2020, facilitating an art retreat in which we painted, explored the rich history of this beautiful country and spent time in community. My students tell me the experience changed them for life. 

Each month I send wages for two of the teachers in the village schools and there is a small team of other loyal helpers that manage to keep the schools going and give these kids a chance to better their lives. 

On top of this several generous sponsors have helped us to build four new homes, complete major fixes on several other homes so families can sleep at night without being rained on, provided bicycles for 100 children in remote areas to enable kids to get to school, and built a toilet block for Piset’s school in the countryside!

Along the way we have also installed water pumps, paid for the funerals of a young widows husbands, and provided food hampers for them and their children for months, and built a toilet block in Nouys mothers village where most of the families use the forest as their bathroom.

I couldn't have done this without the help of my generous community of kind, creative friends.